The animals, indigenous to the country, were completely wiped out by 1982. Now, thanks to the combined effort of several private and public bodies, they are making a comeback.
About 110 miles (177 kilometers) north of the capital Kampala lies the privately own, non-profit Zhiwa Rhino Sanctuary, 7,000 hectares of suitable savannah and native woodlands.
Six southern white rhinos were introduced here in 2005. Now there are fifteen.
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Add to that the illegal cutting for firewood, and vegetation is disappearing at an alarming pace, hurting both the land and the local populations who depend on it.
It won’t be easy to reverse the damage, but identifying the problem is a good way to start.
Fixing it will require patience and a coordinated effort. Just like with rhinos, which are coming back to Uganda one calf at a time.
